AGI Waits for Health Care to be Completed; NLS Speakers Announced

January 7, 2010—Prior to the winter holidays, the Senate finally passed its version of health-care reform. The Administration, House, and Senate are now working together to reach a compromise bill. The White House is pushing to get the bill completed prior to the State of the Union address later in January, but it appears that the timing of the bill will run into February. The House will be back in session on January 12 and the Senate will return on January 19.

Under the above scenario for health care, there is an expectation that the Senate will take up the education budget reconciliation and the American Graduation Initiative in February. In other major news, the Senate’s action on the jobs bill legislation is still pending. It is unclear whether the Senate bill will be similar to the House bill.

ACCT continues to work on gathering co-sponsors for H.R. 4196, the Community College Emergency Stabilization Fund Act, sponsored by Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX). Currently, the bill has 335 co-sponsors. Rep. Larson is still working to attach the bill as part of a larger legislative vehicle. Adding more co-sponsors will facilitate the process.

In other advocacy news, ACCT is excited to start off the new year by announcing the names of three distinguished leaders in media, politics, economics, and business who will be making keynote addresses at the 2010 National Legislative Summit (NLS):

• David Gregory, Moderator, NBC’s Meet the Press
• William D. Green, CEO and Chairman, Accenture
• David Leonhardt, Economics Columnist, The New York Times

The 2010 NLS comes after an unprecedented year of legislative support for community colleges at the federal level. Your participation in this annual event is essential to showing your lawmakers the importance of community colleges to the nation's education as well as the workforce and economy.

You still have time to register for the 2010 NLS.

Click here to register now, or click here for more information.